First period summary: Bruins vs. Devils

The first period between the Bruins and Devils at the Prudential Center was highlighted by strong defense and sporadic yet unsuccessful offensive flurries. The Bruins ended the period with a 13-6 shots on goal advantage and had a handful of realistic opportunities against Devils netminder Martin Brodeur.

The period featured bookend scoring chances for the Bruins. Mark Stuart rang one off the post just over a minute into the period and Steve Begin was robbed in a scrum in front of the net with two and a half to go in a flurry that also featured a bid from Daniel Paille and Patrice Bergeron.

With just under nine minutes to go in the period, Marco Sturm and Mark Recchi were denied of a potential juicy rebound when Brodeur lost his balance saving a wrister from the stick of Dennis Wideman despite a screen from Bergeron.

Each goaltender displayed subpar stickwork with about six and a half minutes remaining in the period. Shortly after Brodeur mishandled the puck in a way reminiscent of the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals, Tuukka Rask was nearly caught playing out the puck out of his net before taking out Dean McAmmond himself.